NOT the Majority Opinion

The following article appeared in the Guardian today (http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1694612,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704) under the title: Choice increases segregation, schools research shows. I disagree with the title. The research quoted does not “show”. It merely indicates. To infer causality requires much more than establishing association. However, the findings presented in the article are strong evidence in support of the claim.

Further embarrassing evidence for the government that promoting parental choice will exacerbate social segregation in schools has emerged from London University's Institute of Education. Research by the Institute of Education, which has done studies for the Department for Education and Skills, shows that one in five secondary pupils in England has been placed in a school according to parental choice. Rebecca Allen compared the existing situation with a simulation in which all pupils went to their nearest school and found that schools were more socially segregated under the present arrangements.

Religious comprehensives had a more advantaged intake than the average for their surrounding areas, she found. Segregation was greater in cities and areas with grammar, voluntary aided (faith) and foundation schools. Anna Vignoles, a colleague at the institute, said that causality was hard to establish. "But the current pattern suggests that segregation is higher where more pupils exercise choice of schools." The study confirms work published this week by the Sutton Trust showing that the top 200 comprehensives in England have more middle class intakes than their catchment areas, particularly if they are faith schools.

Yesterday EducationGuardian.co.uk reported that academics at Southampton and Essex Universities had found social segregation in England was as high as in the US and higher than in Scotland. Giving schools more control over their admissions would increase segregation, said Professor John Micklewhite, of Southampton.

The three research studies indicate that 11-plus style academic selection is a red herring and the key issue is social selection by comprehensive schools